WASHINGTON, DC - A deal to release hostages held by Hamas, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of Israeli troops, has been agreed by the parties in talks in Doha involving mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, including representatives from the Biden administration, as well as representatives from the incoming Trump administration

33 of the remaining ninety-eight hostages still detained in Gaza will be released, with 3 expected as early as Sunday, with the truce coming into effect on Sunday.

President-Elect Donald Trump broke the news with a post on Truth Social. International, U.S. and Israeli media are all reporting a 'ceasefire' has been reached. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu however has issued a statement saying a deal has not been finalised, and there are still some issues to be worked out. This despite the fact that the current 'agreement' is a complex document comprising some 100 pages, and has been largely agreed by both sides since May last year.

Despite talks being in the works, the Israeli military has intensified its attacks on the enclave in recent days and weeks.

Israel Air Force pilots carried out a number of airstrikes in Gaza City, Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah in the past 24 hours.

The 'agreement' which appears to be in the process of being finalized provides for the withdrawal of the Israeli military in the second and third phases. More hostages will also be released in these stages.

It is understood a number of the hostages are dead, however their families will see their loved ones remains returned as part of the deal.

Hamas issued a statement late Wednesday saying the agreement entered into on Wednesday is the same agreement reached in May last year, and blamed Mr Netanyahu for sabotaging it, costing "thousands of innocent lives on both sides."

It is true the Israeli prime minister ordered the assassination of the lead negotiator for Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, on 31 July 2024 as part of a concerted attempt to disrupt talks. The assassination was carried out in Tehran while the Hamas political chief was attending the inauguration of the new Iranian president. Haniyeh's three sons and 4 grand children were assassinated in the weeks prior, and his sister a month before his death.

In Israel on Thursday people poured into the streets to celebrate the long-awaited agreement, which if fully carried out will see the return of all the remaining hostages, living and dead.

In Gaza, Palestinians were celebrating the end of a 15-month horror stretch in which most of the enclave has been destroyed, and forty-six thousand people have been killed.